A Fortune 500 medical-technology company plans to open a support-services operation in San Antonio that will employ 296 people.

BD, also known as Becton, Dickinson and Co., of Franklin Lakes, N.J., expects to employ workers in human resources, finance, procurement and customer service at the operation. The jobs will pay an average annual wage of $40,880.

The company, which ranked 312th on the latest Fortune 500 list, with $7.2 billion in revenue last year, expects the San Antonio office to be operational in January. But BD hasn't finalized where it will locate the office.

The company's businesses include producing an array of medical devices, such as needles, syringes and intravenous catheters. No manufacturing will take place in San Antonio.

The area's ?excellent pool of potential employees and skilled labor, along with proximity to academic institutions, were significant draws,? BD Chairman and CEO Edward J. Ludwig said in a statement.

Local economic development officials are hopeful that BD's arrival might eventually lead the company to create a bigger presence in San Antonio.

?We always see these as an opportunity to begin establishing a good working relationship and to prove our community's capabilities for supporting their operations,? said David Marquez, Bexar County's economic development director.

BD stands to receive a bevy of incentives and property-tax abatements from the city, the county and the state based on the number of jobs created and capital investment of nearly $6.4 million.

The county has offered a 10-year, 100 percent tax abatement valued at about $188,000.

The value of a city tax break depends on where BD decides to locate the office. If BD locates outside Loop 410, the city will provide a six-year, 100 percent abatement valued at $201,762. If the office is inside Loop 410, the city will provide a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement valued at $248,857. The city also has offered $100,000 in job-training credits over two years. The credits will be administered through Alamo Colleges.

The San Antonio office is one of four ?professional services? operations BD is establishing. The others will be in Latin America, Europe and Asia. The San Antonio operation will support operations in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.